10.10.2011

9.25.2011

You have been wondering what I have been up to... or maybe you don't care, you're just wondering why I haven't been posting my freebies lately.. :) I have been able to balance my life pretty well, but it has become a little overwhelming. I have had to prioritize and some things just don't get done...

Here is what I have been up to:

1. I have been devoting all of my spare time to an 84 page sports guide I just finished and sent to the printer... that has been a HUGE burden. But it's done! :)

2. My ex sister-in-law is struggling and her children were taken into the custody of the state... I have been taking care of her youngest (my brothers) since the end of May. She has been in need of almost constant attention. Summer was long but now she is kindergarten in the afternoon and she loves it. We just found out that her daddy gets full custody of her on Oct. 12th.

3. Monday the 19th my family when on a small hike and my uncle fell and shattered BOTH of his heels! My house is the only one without stairs and with someone "home", so I get to take care of him! I love him and I'm glad he's here and we get to serve him for the next 12 weeks... BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR FEET!!

4. I am a wife, a mother of 2 young children (plus 1), I do hair part time from my home, I am room mom, on the PTA Board over Reflections and have a calling in my church that takes me out of the house every Thursday night from 4:30 to 10:00pm, I have been training for my first Marathon (Oct. 1st!) AND I teach Digital Scrapbooking Classes!

My problem is that I love to do it all... It came as a shock to me that I am really not super woman. (haha) I can't do it all! (at the same time anyway) I am on my way to "de-junking" my time. As you have seen I have rearranged my class schedule to every other month. I may be able to add more classes but I will have to get through these next busy months first.

Sorry I have disappeared but I hope have some goodies for you soon!
Until then here is a coupon code for my October Classes! use CRAZY15 for $15 off!

Comment: Has your life ever been out of control? Too much to handle? How did you cope? How did you Simplify?

5.16.2011

I found a love for scrapbooking when I was 12 years old... this was back when we used disposable cameras, 8.5x11 pastel cardstock, jelly roll pens, stencils and who can forget Mrs. Grossman Stickers! {Those scrapbooks are in storage right now or I would have included a picture}

I went 12x12 in 2002... and here they are.

I was in a Scrapbook Page Swap Group where each of us would make ten 12x12 - 2 page layouts (20 pages total) and swap each month. Great deal right?

When buying in bulk to make 10 of the same layout, I spent an average of $3.50 per layout back then. ($30-$40 for 10 two-sided layouts) Then there was the cost having to print my pictures and hope they fit the layouts that were given to me.

Depending on the layout and my creative flow that day I could spend well over an hour on one layout! One thing that took me the most time... (if it got done at all) was my TITLING and JOURNALING! I have a love/hate relationship with my penmanship so I would type my journaling in word and cut and paste it into my book. Titles were often made with the beloved Cricut Machine and glued individually to the page... So Time Consuming!! To this day I still have layouts that aren't titled or journaled :( So sad!!! This one isn't even embellished!

The Conversion to Digital:

Peer Pressure. Pure Peer Pressure. I bought a laptop, installed PSE 6, learned a few basics from a friend and have been hooked ever since!

I finally have completed pages with perfectly straight "cuts", titles and journaling!

My kitchen table is no longer covered with scrapbooking supplies.

Clean up consists of saving my work and shutting down the laptop! No mess!

I can ink around the edges of my papers with a single click... and my fingers come away clean!

I can make one page and print it multiple times for each kids own scrapbook or for grandparents.

If I lose my scrapbooks due an act of nature (flood, fire, etc) or over-viewing (ripped, wrinkled, spilled on or whatever) NO WORRIES! I can print them again because they are backed up in 3 different places!

My family who lives far away can enjoy looking through my scrapbooks because I can upload them to the web.

Now I can create a page in as little as 15 minutes!

I can comfortably fit up to 10 images on one 12x12 page. - I tend to take ALOT of pictures with my digital camera... why not? My memory card is big enough and I want to make sure I get the best shot possible and don't want to miss a special moment! {You laugh because you do the same thing. Admit it!}

A Digital Kit costs anywhere between FREE and $7.99 and they can be used over and over! I don't know about you but I never use every single piece in a digital kit on one layout... you can make umpteen layouts with the same kit and get an entirely different look from it!

I print my pages when prints are on sale and usually end up paying under $1.29 per page!! (that includes tax and shipping)

Did you know that when your child is able to look at pictures of themselves it could foster good self esteem? It makes sense. I know my kids LOVE to look at pictures of themselves, their family and the good times we share.

4.09.2011

Isn't Addelyn the most darling 8 year old? I LOVE her dress! I was so excited when my friend asked me to design her announcement! Here it is. We made it Costco Card size so she could get the deal with the envelopes. So smart :)

If you need something designed... think of me!! I would LOVE to work for you! :)
Just send me an email with what you want and we'll get it done!

3.17.2011

Hopefully you have scowered my blog for my freebies and have picked up a healthy stash of layered templates! But those are no good unless you know how to use them! You will be amazed at how simple they are!

Sometimes I start with pictures and sometimes I start with papers depending on my mood. I just grabbed a paper from my stash for this tutorial...

Understanding Layers is KEY for using templates efficiently. When I am creating a layout with a template I usually start talking to myself. I will say "I want this paper block to be..." and I click that block. Which then selects that layer in my layers bin. The importance of making sure the layer that you want to work with is selected because whatever you drag onto to your layout next is going to be place directly above that layer in the layers bin as shown below.

You are probably thinking "well, that layer needs to be cropped to the size of that paper block!" and I say, Yes! Yes it does! :) BUT HERE IS THE TRICK!!! :)

When it comes to the elements on a template, they are usually just there as placement suggestions. You caaaann layer mask something to it but it will have the look of a die cut. So if that is the look you want to achieve, Great! Go for it! If not, just place an element from the kit you are using onto the page and delete the template one. ;)

Also remember that templates are created in layers to be flexible as well! Feel free to turn pictures if yours doesn't fit just right!

I hope this helps! Thanks for visiting and for using my templates! I really would love your feedback! (Especially if it is nice!) lol.

3.04.2011

I teamed up with Rachel at {Remember This Photography} to start doing DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKING RETREATS nationwide!! Help us get the word out by liking our facebook page and suggesting us to your friends! Right now we have an all inclusive retreat scheduled for ZION NATIONAL PARK, UT on MAY 13-14, 2011 and there are only 13 tickets left!!! If you would like us to bring a retreat to your area contact me and I'll fill you in on the details!! You and a friend could come free!!!

I have this free template for you but you have to visit the retreat site to pick it up... just one click away!
Thanks SO much!!! :)

2.04.2011

This kit was fun to make but I didn't realize when I was making it just how versatile it is! You could use for girlie Springy pics or for some dirty play pics! I LOVE IT!!! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! I would LOVE to see what you do with it so send me a link to your layout or tag me on facebook so I can check it out!!! Thanks!